DOLE to celebrate 116th Labor Day, sets activities
for Caraganons
By Jennifer P. Gaitano
BUTUAN CITY, April 16 (PIA) - In celebration of the
116th Labor Day, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Caraga has set
various activities for Caraganons to avail of on May 1, 2018 at the Oazis
Hotel, this city.
According to DOLE Caraga regional director Chona
Mantilla, highlights of the said event include the Trabaho, Negosyo, Kabuhayan
(TNK) fair, in coordination with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), as
well as DOLE-attached agencies such as the National Labor Relations Commission
(NLRC), National Conciliation and Mediation Board (NCMB), Overseas Workers
Welfare Administration (OWWA), Philippine Overseas Employment Administration
(POEA), Employees Compensation Commission (ECC), Professional Regulations
Commission (PRC), Occupational Safety and Health Center (OSHC) and the National
Reintegration Center for OFWs (NRCO).
“Services offered by the aforementioned agencies
will be readily available to workers and the public in general. These include
employment and business counselling, processing of documents and selected
services as well as answering queries. Also, there will be an awarding of
recognition to Labor Unions particularly the workers and Livelihood Releases.
It may be noted that as of April 10, 2018, DOLE Caraga has already given around
P804 thousand for 25 beneficiaries of livelihood/ Kabuhayan assistance,”
revealed Mantilla.
Likewise, a One-Stop Service Center for the
jobseekers will be readily available in the venue in coordination with the different
agencies such as the Social Security System (SSS), Home Development and Mutual
Fund (HDMF), Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PHIC), National Bureau of
Investigation (NBI) and Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
There is also an orientation briefing for those who
want to avail of DOLE services such as livelihood assistance, and the like. A
skills demonstration through TESDA, as well as games, Larong Pinoy for the
Informal sector and ITCs will also be offered.
The celebration will start with a Thanksgiving Mass
to be held at the St. Joseph Cathedral, to be followed by a motorcade onward to
the job and business fair/ TNK at the Oazis Hotel.
Meanwhile, as part of the celebration, a press
conference will also be facilitated by the Philippine Information Agency (PIA)
on April 30, 2018 in Butuan City. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)
Gov’t allocates additional funds for Caraga IPs
By Jennifer P. Gaitano and Venus L. Garcia
BUTUAN CITY, April 16 (PIA) - In line with the
conduct of the two-day Indigenous Peoples (IP) Leaders Summit held recently
here with guest speaker Secretary Jesus Dureza of the Office of the
Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP), local officials and
government agencies committed to provide additional funds for the priority
programs and projects for the IPs in the region.
Agusan del Sur Governor Adolph Edward Plaza
committed a P5 million fund for the priority programs and projects intended for
the IPs. Apart from that, Butuan City Mayor Ronnie Vicente Lagnada also
committed P2 million, while the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples
(NCIP) Caraga will allot funds worth P15 million.
On educational assistance program, the Office of
Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) has already given P8 million
through NCIP. For Caraga region alone, 200 slots are allotted for the 2018
scholarship to be granted to indigenous peoples.
As venue host of the two-day IP Leaders Summit,
Mayor Lagnada, expressed that the said summit was one way of recognizing the
presence of the IP communities in the region. This will also create good
linkage with the private sector, not only with the government.
"We take note of all your issues and concerns
and we will see to it that thru our concerted efforts, we would be able to
address these," he said.
Caraga Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC)
chair and Agusan del Norte governor Ma. Angelica Rosedell Amante-Matba is
committed to support the programs and projects for the Indigenous Peoples of
Caraga region.
Meanwhile, Sec. Jesus Dureza, underlined that
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte wanted to ensure by all means that the welfare of
the IPs are provided to them through the programs of the government that would
directly address their concerns. He also emphasized that Caraga has a diverse
culture, thus, everyone should be respected of their rights.
Sec. Dureza further underscored the aspiration of
Pres. Duterte to preserve the indigenous peoples’ culture and individual
identity. Indeed, an IP convergence group was created to keep abreast of the
issues and concerns for the government to act appropriately on them.
“Be more action-driven and participative in
realizing the proposed programs and projects to achieve lasting peace and
sustainable development. The administration is really keeping a friendly
atmosphere among all IP communities in the country to come and work together in
improving the IPs way of living,” expressed Sec. Dureza.
Also, as an outright action of OPAPP Sec. Jesus
Dureza upon knowing the pressing concerns of the Lumads in Caraga region, he
led the appointing of a point person/group through the heads of government
agencies with the help of LGU officials to lead, look into and focus in taking
actions involving the titling of ancestral domains. (JPG/VLG/PIA-Caraga)
Red tide warning still up in Lianga Bay
By Nida Grace P. Barcena
LIANGA, Surigao del Sur, April 16 (PIA) - The
Lianga Bay in Surigao del Sur remains positive for red tide toxin based on the
latest laboratory results released by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic
Resources (BFAR) through its Shellfish Bulletin No. 12, Series of 2018.
In a letter sent to Governor Vicente Pimentel Jr.
from BFAR-Caraga Regional Director Juan Albaladejo, it stated that all types of
shellfish and Acetes sp. or Alamang gathered from the area are not safe for
human consumption.
However, fish, squids, shrimps and crabs are safe
for human consumption if they are fresh and washed thoroughly, and the internal
organs such as gills and intestines are removed before cooking.
Aside from Lianga Bay, the Coastal Waters of Leyte
and Carigara Bay in Leyte; Coastal Waters of Biliran Province; Honda Bay,
Puerto Princesa in Palawan; and Coastal Waters of Dauis and Tagbilaran City in
Bohol are also found positive for paralytic shellfish poison that is beyond the
regulatory limit.
Meanwhile, the coastal waters of Hinatuan and
Bislig Bay of this province remain red tide-free. (NGBT/PIA-Surigao del Sur)
SurSur gears up for 58th founding anniversary
celebration via new approach
By Greg Tataro, Jr.
TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur, 16 April (PIA) -
Instead of keeping on following the same old way of observing the founding
anniversary of the province of Surigao del Sur, the provincial government under
Governor Vicente “BB” Pimentel, Jr. wants to blaze a new trail for the upcoming
58th annual celebration on June 19, 2018.
Speaking before capitol employees on flag raising
rites on Monday, April 16, Provincial Administrator Efren Rivas said that it
helped to entertain new ideas from some sectors on how to go about the
forthcoming activity.
Right now, the provincial government has remained
open to accepting more proposals on what fitting theme to take.
Initially, the administrator said that what had
been strongly considered were the use of floats during the opening parade. He explained that each local government unit
(LGU) at the city and municipal levels would have one float each to represent
them. The province is composed of two
cities and 17 municipalities.
Hence, it would no longer be “people-intensive”
parade that once required employees, pupils and students as well as other
sectors to take part, he noted. Rather,
this practice would be done away with.
Rivas also pointed out that it would be nice to
make things different than the usual, saying that this time around, they would
like to see pupils or students waving “flaglets” on both sides of the road
during the float parade.
Besides, each LGU would be requested to build its
own display booth to house their crafts and farm products during the entire
duration of the anniversary event, Rivas added.
However, he made sure that the provincial
government would set aside fund to support all LGUs on this endeavor.
As suggested, the start of a more festive mood
province-wide through the initiative of municipal and city LGUs would coincide
with the very first day of the month of June until the culmination on June 19,
according to Provincial Administrator Rivas. (Radyo
Pilipinas-Tandag/PIA-Surigao del Sur)
91 farmers get land certificates
By Rechel D. Besonia
PROSPERIDAD, Agusan del Sur, April 16 (PIA) - “The
time has come!”
This was the statement of Provincial Agrarian
Reform Program Officer (PARPO) II Leoncio C. Bautista Jr., in his message as he
explained the history and transition of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform
Program (CARP) in this municipality during the distribution of individual
titles held recently in Barangay Magsaysay.
A total of 105 Certificate of Land Ownership Award
(CLOA) were distributed to 91 Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARB) covering an
aggregate landholding of 151.1652 hectares of Government Owned Lands (GOL).
The activity was spearheaded by the DAR Municipal
Office, through the effort of the Municipal Agrarian Reform Program Officers
(MARPOs) Eugenio Sotelo and Alvaro Orboc, in its aim to assure the farmers of
their security to own the land that they till together with the cooperation of
the Barangay Local Government Unit thru Barangay Captain Warlito Corvera.
“I hope that this will be the beginning of much
productive and developed Barangay,” Corvera said.
Also in attendance was PARPO I Allan Mundala, who
stressed the important obligations that come with the title.
“You must remember, as the new CLOA holder, that
part of your obligation is to make the land productive, and pay your required
taxes,” he emphasized to the farmers.
Meanwhile, Gaspar Epelipsia, a 73-year old ARB said
that the distribution of title was a dream come true.
“Mapasalamaton kaayo ko ug dako sa atong ahensya sa
DAR ug sa LGU officials sa paghatag nila ani nga higayon nga kami hingpit na
nga nanag- iya niining yuta nga among gitikad ilabi na sa akong katiguwangon (I
am so thankful with DAR and the LGU for giving us the chance to become
landowner ourselves),” he said.
Also emphasized by MARPO Sotelo during the
distribution were the duties and responsibilities of the ARBs over the land
that they now owned.
Together with the CLOA, tax declarations were also
distributed on that same day. This is to enable the ARBs to become aware of
their responsibility in paying the required taxes. (DAR-Agusan del Sur/
PIA-Agusan del Sur)
DAR, LGU break ground for Project ConVERGE’s
P24.8-M FMR
By Rechel D. Besonia and Rondick Sodusta
STA. JOSEFA, Agusan del Sur, April 16 - A
traditional groundbreaking ceremony recently took place at Barangay Sayon, Sta.
Josefa, this province to mark the construction of a P24.8 million
Farm-to-Market Road project of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) under
the Project Convergence on Value-Chain Enhancement for Rural Growth and
Empowerment (ConVERGE).
Sta. Josefa Vice Mayor Richard Plaza, DAR-Caraga
assistant regional director Daylinda Paz Narisma, together with DAR-AgSur
provincial agrarian reform program officer I Allan Mundala attended the
ceremony.
Vice Mayor Plaza expressed his gratitude for the
construction of the Farm-to-Market Road and urged his constituents to actively
take part in monitoring the proper implementation of the project.
“Thank you so much to DAR for choosing us as the
recipient of this project. It is a very big help for our farmers to be able to
have an easy access for their products to the market and lessen the cost of
labor,” Plaza said.
Assistant Regional Director Narisma also
highlighted that with the construction of the FMR, agricultural production will
likely increase.
“Once the project is fully implemented, it will
directly benefit a total of 4,176 farmers that will result to poverty reduction
by generating more economic activities for the farmers and their families,” she
said.
The design of the FMR will feature a width of 4.0
meters with shouldering of one meter on both sides which will cover the three
barangays - Poblacion, Concepcion and Sayon.
The FMR project is under Project ConVERGE, which is
implemented by DAR and funded by the International Fund for Agriculture
Development (IFAD) and the Government of the Philippines (GOP). (DAR-Agusan del
Sur/PIA-Agusan del Sur)
Itik Pinas to boost poultry industry in Agusan del
Sur
By Jason E. Jampac
AGUSAN DEL SUR, April 16 (PIA) - Duck and chicken
raisers are expected to experience increased income in the next few years in
Agusan del Sur after the province was identified as recipient of the “Itik
Pinas” project.
This was revealed by Dr. Ronnie D. Domingo,
director of the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) during the one-day advocacy
seminar titled “Back to Basics – Scientific and Sustainable Livestock and
Poultry Development” held recently at the Democrito O. Plaza Sports Complex,
Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur.
The “Itik Pinas” project is a joint effort of BAI,
National Swine Poultry Research Development Center (NSPRC), Department of
Science and Technology (DOST), and the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI).
With this project, farmer-beneficiaries will
receive genetically superior breed of multiplier ducks and chicken.
Dr. Rene C. Santiago, center chief of NSPRDC
explained that the breeder ducks have higher average productive period of 70
percent as compared to the old breeds which are only at 55 percent. This
translates to an increase in egg production and additional income. Moreover,
eggs produced in Itik Pinas weigh an average of 65 grams a piece, meeting the
requirements of the ‘balut’ industry.
Over 600 participants were present during the
seminar who were oriented about their responsibilities and benefits of the project.
They also listened to the lectures on Free Range Chicken Production by Dr. Ma.
Asuncion G. Beltran (Dean, College of Veterinary Medicine, Tarlac State
University) and Duck Egg Production by Dr. Santiago.
Also, as part of the repayment scheme, offspring
from the dispersed animals will be rolled out to the next-in-line
beneficiaries.
According to Dr. Ruth S. Miclat-Sonaco, center
director of the International Training Center for Pig Husbandry (ITCPH), the
number of Itik Pinas recipients throughout the country is targeted to reach
five million by the end of 2022.
Aside from those mentioned above, other officials
who gave their words of encouragement to the participants were Dr. Joriz G.
Elevazo, Head of the Provincial
Veterinary Office of Agusan del Sur; Nilo Manpatilan, IP Focal Person (ADS);
Abel James I. Monteagudo, Regional Director of DA-RFO XIII; and Samuel L.
Calonzo, OIC Center Director of ATI-Caraga. (ATI/ PIA-Agusan del Sur)
Tagalog news: Dagdag na pundo para matugunan ang
mga pangunahing programa at proyekto para sa mga IPs, pinangakong ibibigay ng
mga lokal na opisyal at ahensya ng Caraga Region
Ni Jennifer P. Gaitano
LUNGSOD NG BUTUAN, Abril 16 (PIA) - Sa pagdalo ni
Secretary Jesus Dureza ng Office of Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process
(OPAPP) sa ginanap na Indigenous Peoples (IPs) Leaders Summit sa lungsod ng
Butuan kamakailan, nangako rin ng dagdag na pundo ang mga lokal na opisyal ng
Caraga Region para matugunan ang mga pangunahing programa at proyekto na
naaayon at nararapat para sa mga IPs.
Ito ay matapos mailahad ang ibat-ibang issues and
concerns ng mga IPs sa kani-kanilang mga komunidad. Tinawag isa-isa ni
secretary Dureza ang lahat ng mga ahensiyang kailangang tumugon sa pagresolba
ng mga suliranin at pangangailangan ng nasabing sektor sa rehiyon.
Kabilang na dito si Agusan del Sur Governor Adolph
Edward Plaza, na nag-commit sa harap mismo ni Sec. Dureza na maglalaan ang
kanyang administrasyon ng P5-milyon para sa mga IPs. Gayun din si Butuan City
mayor Ronnie Vicente Lagnada na nangakong maglalaan ng P2-milyon, at P15-milyon
naman mula sa National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP).
Kabilang sa mga nabanggit na mga issues and
concerns ay ang pakiusap ng mga IPs sa pagtugon ng gobyerno sa kanilang
proteksyon sa kanilang kinabibilangang komunidad.
Ayon kay NCIP-Caraga regional director Atty. Jose
Dumagan Jr., ang Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine National
Police (PNP), at NCIP ay may ginagawang mga stratehiya upang masegurado at
mapanatili ang kaayusan at kaligtasan ng mga IPs. May AFP personnel na din
umano ang nakadeploy sa mga IP areas ng rehiyon sa tulong ng militar.
Hiniling din ng mga IPs na madagdagan ang quota ng
IP soldiers at CAFGU sa kanilang lugar. Napag-alaman na sa taong 2017, may
kabuoang 300 miyembro ng IP communities na kabilang sa 4th Infantry Division
ang narecruit. May mga IPs sa Banwaon at Higa-onon tribes na din umano ang
napabilang na ngayon sa enlisted ng Army, partikular na sa 26th Infantry
Battalion sa Caraga region.
Binigyang-diin naman ni Atty. Dumagan na ang
nasabing IP Leaders Summit ay isinagawa upang mabigyan ng pagkakataong makapahayag
o makapresenta ang mga ahensiya ng gobyerno sa ibat-ibang solusyon sa mga
hinanaing at hiling ng mga IPs.
Samantala, ipinahayag naman ni Sec. Dureza na ang
gobyerno ay lubos na sumusuporta sa mga IP communities at patuloy na
magbibigay-serbisyo at tutugon sa kanilang mga pangangailangan at nang matamasa
nila ang kaayusan at kaunlaran ng kanilang sektor.
Sa nangyaring dalawang araw na IP Leaders Summit,
ang Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Caraga naman
ay nanguna sa ceremonial awarding ng kanilang scholarship program sa mga IPs.
(JPG/PIA-Caraga)
